The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-04-15
Washington Letter.
tfrun oar regular corre-pondent.1
WasufxeToN. April II. iSS'


n rom o1ir regular re-pondent.)
WAsHfNeToN. April II. 1887.
The work Of evangelzing the city OF
Washington has commenced and from the
outlook will be vigorously prosecuted.
Tie pastors ofeighteen protestant churches
have discussed the subject fraternally, and
have agreed upon means Of systematic
union work in every section ot the Capitol
which certain noralists have essayed to es
tablish As the most ungodly in the world.
And Washington is being made better
in other ways An old law on the District
of Columbia statute books makes it I'M
lawful far any person to keep open any
place Of business for the sale OF any article
Of profit on sunday. excepting apothecar-
les. undeftakers and BARRIERS The Com
nissioners have resurrecttd this law from
its dusty tomb and propose TO enforce il.
ia other words there will be no cigar stores
open next Sunday. and news stands, ice
cream saloons, lunch rooms. etc, will also
be closed.
It is difficult 80 see the drift Of this
action. Some people think that, since the
day Of blue law Is over, the prohibitionists
have gone little too far for their own
good. that there will be general howl Of
indignation, a test case in which tie Dis
tlict v III probably be defeated and tlien
the barrier will be dowH.
do not know that Washington needs
any more eyangeliziug labor expended
upon it tlian any other metropolis in the
country, despite the universal opinion out
side that it j, a perfect cesspool ofniquiiy.
The Capital Is not a vicious city. It is not
an immoral city. 1t Is really not in As bad
a way by hall a. the agitators would make
it ont TO be.
There are no gambling houses here. At
ono time faro aud ali other games which
ruined the life and business advancement
Of many a man were in fall blast, but they
we're completely wiped out some years ago.
During the past winter some Adventures
opened a gambling house here for business,
but within two days their establishment
vas vacated. There are no professional
poker rooms in existence here ! do not
mean that poker is not played, for it is, 10
4 considerable extent during the so-calied
social season. but it is not licensed.
1t has been said in other cities that there
was 10 artistic or musical atmosphere in
Washington: that politics and society alb
sorbed every faculty ana interest wash
ington does lnnch and dine and visit a
great deal, and politics do hang a. a sort
Of Old Man of the sea about its neck,
but II is more than the political and social
capital ofthe greatest republic the world
has ever seen. Every national interest
centers here, and every phase Of national
life is represented here, as is also The intel
lect and culture and patriotism Of a con-
iinent
The great social whirl begins on New
Years Day and subsidies With the advent
Of Lent. During that season, with the
fashionable people and official entertainers,
calls and vi7ting-cards fill up the morn
ings Calls, receptions and visiting cards
crowd the afternoons. Calls, receptions
and visiting cards jam the evenings and
nights until next morning every day.
If every day were a week long and ev-
cry week u month long there would still
not be time enough for all the calls, recep-
lions, visiting cards, breakfasts, Iuncheons.
| dinners and teas, which constitute the oc-
I 6
/ here. Bat amid this social maelstrom,
/ one meets more famous men and women,
/ statesmen, orators, soldiers and scholars.
more people worth knowing and remem-
/ boring, than in any other city OF America,
or than in all its cities combined.
Aud taken All IN all, for It's size, its cos
mopolitan population, il may be said that
Washington is a good city in point oi
morals Still il has been So much and 50
long misreprescnted, that it Will be very
difficult to remove such widely
spread, erroneous impression
Among its latest charities is the estab
lishment Of Home the object Of which i,
to protect aud provide for young wome,
who come here expecting to get work aut
fail to do 50. \ number of prominen
ladies and gentlemen have organized them
selves into an Association Tor the estab
lishment Of this Home, which will he tn
means Of preventing untold suffering aut
degradation. Women come here seekn,
employment from every quarter of tin
United States. OF course many Of then
are disappointed Scarcely day passe
that the police are not called on to pro
vide for such unfortunates, while abou
the only thing that they eau do is TO fur
nish meal or two and nights lodgin,
in the cell of station house
! WEsToN.